Scottish Premiership Team of the Week: Celtic sextet, Rangers key duo, star wing-back and whizzkid – gallery

Scottish Premiership Team of the Week: Celtic sextet, Rangers key duo, star wing-back and whizzkid – gallery

Here is the Scottish Premiership team of the weekend – including stars from Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and more.

Celtic hit St. Johnstone for six, a nervy Rangers side edged past battling Hibs and Dundee United and Kilmarnock shared the spoils in a six-goal thriller. The Scottish Premiership is never boring, is it?

There was also a dramatic 96th minute Lawrence Shankland equaliser as Hearts rescued a 1-1 draw against Ross County to halt a run of eight defeats in a row, while both sides had a man sent off at Fir Park as a Lennon Miller double fired Motherwell into fourth with a 2-1 victory over St Mirren. The impressive Aberdeen continued their 100% start to the season too, as two first-half goals helped them beat Dundee 2-1 at Den’s Park.

But which the players stood out above the rest this weekend? Who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and ensured their team took a vital three points?

Here are the XI players who were the best in their position this weekend, using ratings from popular statistics website FotMob and a 4-3-3 formation, using live photos from the weekend’s matches.

1. GK: Jack Butland (Rangers)

Kept his third clean sheet of the week in the win over Hibs, making a vital penalty save from Mykola Kukharevych and picking up a 8.7 rating in the 1-0 win. | SNS Group

2. RB: Luca Stephenson (Dundee United)

The on-loan Liverpool youngster was one of the highest rated players of the weekend for his performance in the 3-3 draw with Kilmarnock. Picked up two assists and had a 100% tackle win rate. He was rated at 9.0. | SNS Group

3 Scales (Celtic)

The Irishman continued his excellent start to the season with a sixth clean-sheet in a row. His performance was ranked at 8.2. Had a 88% passing accuracy rate and won all 11 of his aerial duels | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group

4. CB: Auston Trusty (Celtic)

The American scored a 7.9 rating on his first league start for Celtic. Completed the most passes (102) in the 6-0 win over St Johnstone and had a 95% passing accuracy to add to it. Won 100% of his tackles too, and won all bar one of his aerial duels. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group

Celtic are playing so well that there are even Lionel Messi comparisons flying about now.

Everyone witnessed Brendan Rodgers’ utter dominance in his first spell as Celtic manager and then Ange Postecoglou, at that very least, matched it when he was in charge.

It could even be argued that Postecoglou’s Celtic played the better football, with Tottenham fans now enjoying his all-action style.

But this current Rodgers side, which put six goals past St Johnstone on Saturday evening, is playing football of the highest order.

Some of the goals Celtic are scoring are incredible and many are starting to question just how good and far can this team run.

From Adam Idah’s stunning team goal from the bench to Kyogo Furuhashi opening the scoring in the only sublime way he knows.

But during the showing in Perth, Kyogo was drawing comparisons to Messi by BBC Sport and it was further emphasised when he scored.

BBC reporter Amy Canavan shared that Messi would have been ‘chuffed’ with the goal Kyogo scored to open the scoring, before the Japan star added another to his name before the break.

With Celtic facing Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, you are hoping someone like Kyogo can sprinkle some Messi magic in front of the Yellow Wall because it’s going to be needed.

Kyogo Furuhashi compared to Lionel Messi

“Our commentary team were drawing comparisons between Kyogo and Lionel Messi earlier,” reported Amy Canavan.

“A goal there the wee man would be chuffed with himself. A stunning finish which the thousands of travelling fans adored.”

Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah competition

One area of the pitch where Celtic can truly destroy their opponents week in and week out is the number nine area.

Both Kyogo and Idah are good enough to start, win the big games and score the crucial goals, as they have both shown in bucket loads.

The Auston Trusty ‘short straw’ factor that didn’t show as Liam Scales backs Celtic new boy to shine

The £6million summer recruit was tasked with playing on the right-hand side of a two left footer centre-back pairing

Auston Trusty was hailed by Liam Scales for his Celtic display at St Johnstone

Liam Scales insists Celtic must be on red alert in Dortmund.

And the defender has backed new sidekick Auston Trusty to shine as he believes in a famous Champions League beating of Borussia. Brendan Rodgers’ team head to Germany brimming with confidence ahead of their showdown in the 81,000-capacity Signal Iduna Park. However, there is also caution as they aim to avoid a repeat of last term’s damaging red-card setbacks.

In three group-stage matches on the road last term, Celtic had a trio of dismissals. Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm were ordered-off during a loss to Feyenoord, while Daizen Maeda harshly saw red to spark a hammering from Atletico Madrid. Scales knows the importance of avoiding such troubling scenarios in Dortmund and said: “He [Rodgers] would have spoken about it before the first game against Bratislava because it killed two fixtures for us, getting men sent off.

“Obviously, they were both difficult fixtures last season, but it is important. You’ve seen the ref as well against Bratislava, in every Champions League game.

“You can’t really make a foul without picking up a yellow card, so we just need to be careful, but still be intense in our defending. It’s just something we need to look out for. It’s more defensively being solid, keeping 11 men on the pitch and not conceding easy goals.

“It’s obviously going to be really difficult and we’ll do very well to get a result, but we believe we can. We also need to go there with a bit of confidence that, if we play our game, we can go and win.”

Scales is ready to go and could be partnered by Trusty. Cameron Carter-Vickers missed the weekend rout of St Johnstone with a toe issue and remains a big doubt for Dortmund.

Liam Scales in action for Celtic

Trusty, who arrived for £6million, partnered Scales strongly in Perth and the Irishman has backed him again if called upon. He said: “Austin was brilliant. Won everything. Obviously, two left footers, he got the short straw playing on the right-hand side! He didn’t look out of place. He didn’t look uncomfortable and that’s brilliant.

“It’s just how we lined up during the week and the shape, the manager’s choice. He was brilliant, so solid, won everything in the air. He was really, really good.

“He’s a top player and I think, whoever it is, we’re ready and we’ve had a chance to play with each other now. I’ve no preference, so it’s just so many good players in each position that we can deal with injuries here and there.

“Cam’s obviously a massive player for us, but I keep saying that the strength in depth is massive. The competition for places, no-one’s place really is secure in the team at the moment because of how good the next player is to come in. Even when we rotate, I don’t think it weakens us. It’s just a really good place to be.”

The challenge in Dortmund will be significantly tougher to Perth, but asked if he believed Celtic could go there and win, Scales said: “Yeah, we just need to go and play the way we’ve been playing and see where that takes us.

“Obviously they’ve got a top, top side and it’s an away fixture in the Champions League, we know it’s going to be difficult. If we play the way we’ve been playing in the league, it gives us our best chance of getting a result there and that’s what we plan to do.”

Fresh footage- watch as Celtic turn on the style to smash St Johnstone

It took the ground level coverage of Celtic’s 6-0 win over St Johnstone to fully appreciate the pace and movement of the table toppers.

As the fans chanted about putting on the style the players took that message to hear to sweep St Johnstone aside.

With Borussia Dortmund to be faced three days later it would have been understandable if Brendan Rodgers’ side had cruised at some stage, instead they were relentless as they chased goals from all angles and sources.

Most Read on videocelts.com



Watch the incredible 86th Daizen Maeda incident against St Johnstone that had Brendan Rodgers purring

Two opportunist striker finishes in the first half from Kyogo Furuhashi either side of another goal from Paulo Bernardo finished the match as a contest but there was no letting up.

Callum McGregor popped in his fourth goal of the season to set the standard after the break, in the 72nd minute he was joined by Daizen Maeda who had had the opening goal controversially denied by VAR.

The real stamp of the Rodgers way came through the sixth goal which ended with Adam Idah slotting the ball into the net after exquisite work between Alex Valle and Luke McCowan.

Six matches into the news season Celtic have full points with no goals conceded, next up is a trip to Ross County on Sunday, a huge contrast with Tuesday’s Champions League trip to face Borussia Dortmund.

Celtic boast best squad depth insists Elena Sadiku after 7-0 Cup win as Rangers and Glasgow City progress – SWPL roundup

Hibs, Partick Thistle, Aberdeen, Boroughmuir Thistle and Motherwell are the other 5 teams who make up the last eight

Celtic Women’s head coach Elena Sadiku

There were no real surprises in the Sky Sports Cup as Glasgow City, Rangers, Celtic and Hibs all progressed to the quarter-finals.

Partick Thistle, Aberdeen, Boroughmuir Thistle and Motherwell all also booked their place in the last eight. Rangers left it late but ultimately had too much for Dundee United. United had succeeded in frustrating Jo Potter’s side before Howat broke the deadlock with 13 minutes remaining. Wilkinson doubled Rangers’ lead with Mia McAulay added a third at the death.

Celtic manager Elena Sadiku rang the changes but still got the result she wanted. The Hoops beat Montrose 7-0 to progress into the quarter-finals of the SWPL Cup after a brace each from Saoirse Noonan and Kit Loferski as well as goals from Mathilde Carstens, Celya Barclais and Morgan Cross. And Sadiku insisted that the result shows that Celtic boast the best squad depth in the country.

“I said to the girls that there is no other team in this league who can make nine changes to the starting XI and still perform like we did,” said the Swede. “I am very proud of the squad and the players we have. It is a big applause for them.

“We dominated from the first minute to the last. That shows what a great team we are and I am very proud of the performance.

“We had a great first-half but we wanted to continue so we went and scored three more. We are never comfortable, we are always pushing for more. It is always about performance because we know that when we perform well that we get the result.”

Her side are up against Rangers on Thursday night on league duty, the first meeting between the teams this season. It was postponed because both teams had Champions League qualifiers earlier this month. She added: “We did what we wanted to do and now it is about how we are going to prepare for Rangers and get the job done.”

Partick Thistle progressed to the last eight after a 3-2 win over Spartans and while Brain Graham was happy to head into the next round he was irked it was not more convincing. He said: “I am delighted to be through but it should have been so much more comfortable. We gave away a cheap goal and then it was the second phase from a set piece that we conceded the second goal.

“We created so many chances and we don’t score enough goals. We should have been out of sight by half-time. We are so wasteful at times. It is about composure. Slow yourself down and pick a corner. There are spells where we dominated but it annoyed me that we gave them two cheap goals.”

Glasgow City edged Hearts out of the Cup with a 3-2 win while Aberdeen beat Gartcairn 2-0. Boroughmuir thumped Livingston 8-0 while Hibs saw off Queen’s Park with an emphatic 7-0 win. Motherwell and Hamilton went to penalties after the game was tied at 1-1 after extra-time with the Fir Park side winning the shoot-out 4-3.

Celtic are drawing a lot of plaudits for the way they’ve started the season, and they took ruthlessness to new heights on Saturday night with a 6-0 thumping of St Johnstone.

Five different players were on the scoresheet contributing to the result. It was an entire team performance, and the goals scored displayed their cohesiveness and collective confidence.

Every single one was aesthetically pleasing and a result of blistering in-play combinations, ripping the home defence apart almost at will throughout the 90 minutes.

It’s true that St Johnstone have problems right now. They didn’t exactly provide a stern test.

But the excitement around Celtic right now is less about the quality of opposition they’ve faced and more about the way they’re going about their business.

Celtic get rave reviews after St Johnstone demolition

The BBC Sportsound panel covering the game couldn’t get enough of what they witnessed, even pundits who can’t exactly be described as Celtic fans.

For example, Hearts supporter Allan Preston led the chorus, and his praise couldn’t have been greater.

He said: “This is as good a football team as I’ve seen in Scotland for years. Many, many years. I don’t know the last time I’ve seen one as fluent as that, as crisp as that.”

Asked if the current iteration of Celtic is better than the outfit Ange Postecoglou assembled in Scotland, Preston continued: “Yeah, I honestly think so. I think when Brendan came in initially, it was a lot of Ange’s players, and they still wanted to play Ange’s way. That’s not Brendan’s way; they are two different styles.

“But having watched Celtic in the close season – I watched the games against Chelsea and Man City. Yes they are friendlies but the way they knocked the ball about, I thought ‘wow’ and wondered whether they could do it back in Scotland. They have, they’ve absolutely done it.”

Celtic can destroy any team in Scotland

For Preston, the fact Celtic were playing St Johnstone was almost incidental. He reckons anyone, even Rangers, could have been on the receiving end of a 6-0 result on Saturday night.

He concluded: “St Johnstone, yeah, they’re on a downer, they aren’t playing well. They’re a club in crisis but Celtic have ripped them apart. It could have been ten. Celtic will do that to virtually every side.

“I include Rangers in that. If Celtic play like they have tonight, Rangers could get one healthy doing when they meet.”

It’s heady praise but not inaccurate. The Bhoys have already beaten the Ibrox side 3-0 this season and are getting better all the time.

Much more is to come, and it’s genuinely exciting that the team will now be testing themselves at the highest level against Dortmund on Tuesday night. Let’s see where Rodgers’ side truly are with that one.

Kris Boyd reveals raging Rangers text from Chris Sutton as Celtic legend left gobsmacked

The former Hoops striker couldn’t believe Gers avoided a red card during their clash with Hibs

Kris Boyd with Sky pundit James McFadden

Chris Sutton may not be at Ibrox today but the Celtic legend was still tuned into events between Rangers and Hibs.

The Sky Sports pundit was given a day off after Celts romped to an impressive 6-0 victory at St Johnstone on Saturday night. Former Hibees boss Jack Ross filled in in Sutton’s absence as he provided a perspective from the green side of Edinburgh during Sky’s coverage of the 12noon kick-off.

However, the ex-Hoops striker was still given a shoutout at half-time after flooding Kris Boyd’s phone with texts asking why Rangers weren’t a man down. The visitors were awarded a VAR penalty moments before half-time after John Souttar blocked a shot with his arm. But on-loan Swansea City frontman Mykola Kuharevich failed to cancel out Tom Lawrence’s opener as his poor effort was saved by Jack Butland.

While there can be no complaints over the spotkick, Sutton reckons Souttar was lucky to stay on the park – and he wasn’t shy in letting pal Boyd know all about it.

Boyd revealed: “Can I just clear something up? My big friends was on the texts saying, ‘Why has he not been sent off?’. He’s not been sent off because Jack Butland’s behind him and he would’ve saved it. So he wasn’t denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity. There you go, Mr. Sutton. Straight away he text me – ‘Why’s that not a red card?’. Straight away, honestly.”

Presenter Eilidh Barbour just shook her head as she laughed: “I can’t believe we’re talking about this when he’s not even here. They are arguing with each other and they aren’t even both here.”